Dylan
Boy name · #41 in 2025 · Uniqueness 41/100
Dylan ranks #41 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 6,208 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #27, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 290 boys born in 2025 was named Dylan.
Babies named Dylan per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 72-year story
Dylan first appears in the Social Security records in 1953, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 16,497 boys were named Dylan — good for #21 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dylan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dylan in class?
Dylan scores 41 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Dylan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dylan is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Dylans were CA (871), TX (833), FL (657), NY (471), NJ (255). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Dylan
Statistically, parents drawn to Dylan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Logan, Ethan, Nolan, Nathan, and Jacob.
LoganEthanNolanNathanJacobAdrianCalebIan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dylan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,208 | #41 |
| 2024 | 7,487 | #28 |
| 2023 | 7,074 | #34 |
| 2022 | 6,745 | #42 |
| 2021 | 6,767 | #44 |
| 2020 | 6,857 | #42 |
| 2019 | 7,555 | #39 |
| 2018 | 8,610 | #31 |
| 2017 | 9,315 | #29 |
| 2016 | 9,720 | #32 |
| 2015 | 10,298 | #27 |
| 2014 | 10,416 | #29 |
| 2013 | 10,127 | #29 |
| 2012 | 10,001 | #31 |
| 2011 | 9,792 | #33 |
| 2010 | 10,520 | #31 |
| 2009 | 11,373 | #30 |
| 2008 | 11,710 | #31 |
| 2007 | 12,811 | #29 |
| 2006 | 13,171 | #26 |
| 2005 | 13,782 | #24 |
| 2004 | 14,852 | #19 |
| 2003 | 15,703 | #19 |
| 2002 | 14,821 | #23 |
| 2001 | 16,497 | #21 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dylan a popular boy name?
Dylan ranked #41 among boys in 2025 with 6,208 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #27.
When was the name Dylan most popular?
Dylan peaked in 2001, when 16,497 American boys received the name (ranked #21 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dylan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 290 newborn American boys was named Dylan. It scores 41/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.